Blade Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

A blade cleaning device for cleaning fan blades includes a funnel, which has a top that is rectangularly shaped and circumferentially larger than a bottom thereof. A conduit, which is engaged to and extends from the bottom of the funnel, is engageable to a hose extending from a vacuum cleaner. A frame is engaged to and extends circumferentially around the top of the funnel. Opposed ends of the frame are dimensionally taller than its opposed sides, defining a recess into which of a cross-sectional portion of a blade can be inserted. The opposed ends are positioned proximate to opposed edges of the blade preventing rotation. A brush element engaged to the frame extends into the recess. The brush element dislodges debris from the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade. The funnel directs the debris to the conduit for collection in the vacuum cleaner.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable (d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR Not Applicable (g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to cleaning devices and more particularly pertains to a new cleaning device for cleaning fan blades.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The prior art relates to cleaning devices for cleaning fan blades. Prior art fan blade cleaning devices may comprise a vacuum attachable brush head having a slot positioned therein that is complementary to a cross-sectional profile of a fan blade.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a funnel, which has a top that is rectangularly shaped and circumferentially larger than a bottom thereof. A conduit, which is engaged to and extends from the bottom of the funnel, is configured to be engageable to a hose extending from a vacuum cleaner.

A frame is engaged to and extends circumferentially around the top of the funnel. Opposed ends of the frame are dimensionally taller than opposed sides of the frame, defining a recess that is configured for insertion of a cross-sectional portion of a blade of a fan. The opposed ends are positioned proximate to opposed edges of the blade so that the blade is prevented from rotating.

A brush element is engaged to the frame and extends into the recess. The brush element is configured to dislodge debris from the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade. The funnel is configured to direct the debris to the conduit for collection in the vacuum cleaner.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a blade cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new cleaning device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the blade cleaning device 10 generally comprises a funnel 12, which has a top 14 that is rectangularly shaped and circumferentially larger than a bottom 16 thereof. The top 14 may be substantially squarely shaped, as shown in FIG. 3. A conduit 18 is engaged to and extends from the bottom 16 of the funnel 12, as shown in FIG. 4. The conduit 18 is configured to be engageable to a hose 20 of a vacuum cleaner 22, as shown in FIG. 7.

A frame 24 is engaged to and extends circumferentially around the top 14 of the funnel 12. Opposed ends 26 of the frame 24 are dimensionally taller than opposed sides 28 of the frame 24, defining a recess 30, as shown in FIG. 4. The recess 30 is configured for insertion of a cross-sectional portion of a blade of a fan, as shown in FIG. 7. The opposed ends 26 of the frame 24 are positioned proximate to opposed edges of the blade so that the blade is prevented from rotating. Each opposed side 28 comprises an inner section 32 that is selectively extensible from an outer section 34, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the frame 24 is selectively width adjustable. As such, the frame 24 is selectively adjustable to match the widths of fan blades having a variety of widths.

A brush element 36 is engaged to the frame 24 and extends into the recess 30. The brush element 36 is configured to dislodge debris from the blade as the frame 24 is motivated longitudinally along the blade. The funnel 12 is configured to direct the debris to the conduit 18 for collection in the vacuum cleaner 22.

The brush element 36 comprises a first element 38 and a second element 40. The first element 38 is engaged to the outer sections 34 and an associated opposed end 26 of the frame 24, as shown in FIG. 3. The second element 40 is engaged to the inner sections 32 and an associated opposed end 26 of the frame 24.

The first element 38 comprises a plurality of bristles 42. The present invention anticipates the bristles 42 of the plurality of bristles 42 being either one or both of flocked and unflocked. Each bristle 42 may comprise a horsehair 44, or other material, such as, but not limited to, nylon, feathers, and the like. The second element 40 comprises fabric, such as velour, as shown in FIG. 3, or other type of fabric, such as, but not limited to, velvet, cotton, and the like.

A hood 46 is engaged to and extends transversely and upwardly from the top 14 of the funnel 12. The funnel 12 is configured to direct the debris dislodged from the blade to the funnel 12. The hood 46 extends along the outer sections 34 and the associated opposed end 26 of the frame 24, as shown in FIG. 3.

The device 10 also may comprise a sleeve 48, which is configured to be positionable over, and removably engageable to, the funnel 12. The sleeve 48 comprises fabric so that the sleeve 48 is configured to clean and to polish the blade as the frame 24 is motivated longitudinally along the blade. The sleeve 48 may comprise microfiber fabric, or other types of fabric, such as, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, and the like.

A plurality of fasteners 50 is engaged to the funnel 12 proximate to the top 14 and is configured to engage the sleeve 48 to engage the sleeve 48 to the funnel 12. Each fastener 50 may comprise a hook 52, which is positioned proximate a corner 54 of the top 14 and which extends toward the bottom 16. Each of a plurality of cords 56 has opposed termini 58 that are coupled to the sleeve 48 to define a loop 60. Each loop 60 is positioned for insertion of a respective hook 52 to engage the sleeve 48 to the funnel 12. The present invention anticipates other fastening means for engaging the sleeve 48 to the funnel 12, such as, but not limited to, pressure sensitive adhesives, hook and loop connectors, and the like.

In use, the device 10 is engaged to the hose 20 of the vacuum cleaner 22 using the conduit 18. The blade of the fan is inserted into the recess 30 and the frame 24 is motivated longitudinally along the blade to dislodge the debris, which is suctioned through the funnel 12 into the vacuum cleaner 22. If required, the inner sections 32 of the opposed sides 28 of the frame 24 can be extended from the outer sections 34 to fit the frame 24 to the width of the blade. Should a user wish to clean or polish the blade, the sleeve 48 can be positioned over the funnel 12 and secured thereto by hooking the cords 56 onto the hooks 52.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A blade cleaning device comprising: a funnel having a top and a bottom, the top being circumferentially larger than the bottom, the top being rectangularly shaped; a conduit engaged to and extending from the bottom of the funnel and being configured to be engageable to a hose extending from a vacuum cleaner; a frame engaged to and extending circumferentially around the top of the funnel, opposed ends of the frame being dimensionally taller than opposed sides of the frame defining a recess, wherein the recess is configured for insertion of a cross-sectional portion of a blade of a fan, positioning the opposed ends proximate to opposed edges of the blade, such that the blade is prevented from rotating; and a brush element engaged to the frame and extending into the recess, wherein the brush element is configured for dislodging debris from the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade, wherein the funnel is configured for directing the debris to the conduit for collection in the vacuum cleaner.
 2. The blade cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the top is substantially squarely shaped.
 3. The blade cleaning device of claim 1, wherein each opposed side comprises an inner section selectively extensible from an outer section such that the frame is selectively width adjustable.
 4. The blade cleaning device of claim 3, wherein the brush element comprises: a first element engaged to the outer sections and an associated opposed end of the frame; and a second element engaged to the inner sections and an associated opposed end of the frame.
 5. The blade cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the first element comprises a plurality of bristles.
 6. The blade cleaning device of claim 5, wherein each bristle comprises a horsehair.
 7. The blade cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the second element comprises fabric.
 8. The blade cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the second element comprises velour.
 9. The blade cleaning device of claim 1, further including a hood engaged to and extending transversely and upwardly from the top of the funnel, wherein the funnel is configured for directing the debris dislodged from the blade to the funnel.
 10. The blade cleaning device of claim 3, further including a hood engaged to and extending transversely and upwardly from the top of the funnel, wherein the funnel is configured for directing the debris dislodged from the blade to the funnel, the hood extending along the outer sections and the associated opposed end of the frame.
 11. The blade cleaning device of claim 1, further including a sleeve configured to be positionable over and removably engageable to the funnel, the sleeve comprising fabric, wherein the sleeve is configured for cleaning and polishing the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade.
 12. The blade cleaning device of claim 11, wherein the sleeve comprises microfiber fabric.
 13. The blade cleaning device of claim 11, further including a plurality of fasteners engaged to the funnel proximate to the top and being configured to engage the sleeve for engaging the sleeve to the funnel.
 14. The blade cleaning device of claim 13, further including: each fastener comprises a hook positioned proximate a corner of the top and extending toward the bottom; and a plurality of cords, each cord having opposed termini coupled to the sleeve defining a loop, such that each loop is positioned for inserting a respective hook for engaging the sleeve to the funnel.
 15. A vacuum cleaner and blade cleaning device combination comprising: a vacuum cleaner having a hose engaged thereto and extending therefrom; a funnel having a top and a bottom, the top being circumferentially larger than the bottom, the top being rectangularly shaped; a conduit engaged to and extending from the bottom of the funnel, the conduit being engaged to the hose; a frame engaged to and extending circumferentially around the top of the funnel, opposed ends of the frame being dimensionally taller than opposed sides of the frame defining a recess, wherein the recess is configured for insertion of a cross-sectional portion of a blade of a fan, positioning the opposed ends proximate to opposed edges of the blade, such that the blade is prevented from rotating; and a brush element engaged to the frame and extending into the recess, wherein the brush element is configured for dislodging debris from the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade, wherein the funnel is configured for directing the debris to the conduit for collection in the vacuum cleaner.
 16. The vacuum cleaner and blade cleaning device combination of claim 15, wherein: each opposed side comprises an inner section selectively extensible from an outer section such that the frame is selectively width adjustable; and the brush element comprises: a first element engaged to the outer sections and an associated opposed end of the frame, the first element comprising a plurality of bristles, wherein each bristle comprises a horsehair, and a second element engaged to the inner sections and an associated opposed end of the frame, the second element comprising velour.
 17. The vacuum cleaner and blade cleaning device combination of claim 16, further including a hood engaged to and extending transversely and upwardly from the top of the funnel, wherein the funnel is configured for directing the debris dislodged from the blade to the funnel, the hood extending along the outer sections and the associated opposed end of the frame.
 18. The vacuum cleaner and blade cleaning device combination of claim 15, further including a sleeve configured to be positionable over and removably engageable to the funnel, the sleeve comprising microfiber fabric, wherein the sleeve is configured for cleaning and polishing the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade.
 19. The vacuum cleaner and blade cleaning device combination of claim 18, further including: a plurality of fasteners engaged to the funnel proximate to the top and being configured to engage the sleeve for engaging the sleeve to the funnel, each fastener comprising a hook positioned proximate a corner of the top and extending toward the bottom; and a plurality of cords, each cord having opposed termini coupled to the sleeve defining a loop, such that each loop is positioned for inserting a respective hook for engaging the sleeve to the funnel.
 20. A blade cleaning device comprising: a funnel having a top and a bottom, the top being circumferentially larger than the bottom, the top being rectangularly shaped, the top being substantially squarely shaped; a conduit engaged to and extending from the bottom of the funnel and being configured to be engageable to a hose extending from a vacuum cleaner; a frame engaged to and extending circumferentially around the top of the funnel, opposed ends of the frame being dimensionally taller than opposed sides of the frame defining a recess, wherein the recess is configured for insertion of a cross-sectional portion of a blade of a fan, positioning the opposed ends proximate to opposed edges of the blade, such that the blade is prevented from rotating, each opposed side comprising an inner section selectively extensible from an outer section such that the frame is selectively width adjustable; a brush element engaged to the frame and extending into the recess, wherein the brush element is configured for dislodging debris from the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade, wherein the funnel is configured for directing the debris to the conduit for collection in the vacuum cleaner, the brush element comprising: a first element engaged to the outer sections and an associated opposed end of the frame, the first element comprising a plurality of bristles, each bristle comprising a horsehair, and a second element engaged to the inner sections and an associated opposed end of the frame, the second element comprising fabric, the second element comprising velour; a hood engaged to and extending transversely and upwardly from the top of the funnel, wherein the funnel is configured for directing the debris dislodged from the blade to the funnel, the hood extending along the outer sections and the associated opposed end of the frame; a sleeve configured to be positionable over and removably engageable to the funnel, the sleeve comprising fabric, wherein the sleeve is configured for cleaning and polishing the blade as the frame is motivated longitudinally along the blade, the sleeve comprising microfiber fabric; a plurality of fasteners engaged to the funnel proximate to the top and being configured to engage the sleeve for engaging the sleeve to the funnel, each fastener comprising a hook positioned proximate a corner of the top and extending toward the bottom; and a plurality of cords, each cord having opposed termini coupled to the sleeve defining a loop, such that each loop is positioned for inserting a respective hook for engaging the sleeve to the funnel. 